5/9/07 Fountains and a Train Ride

This morning we woke to threatening skies. It looked like it could rain at any moment. We debated on what to do, go out and see Branson or spend another day at the campground. It was time to sight see we decided.

We couldn't help but notice all the theaters with huge parking lots along the way. It looks much like we would expect Vegas to look with all the neon. And billboards! You've never seen so many billboards!

We arrived in downtown Branson around 10:30 and purchased tickets for a ride on the 11:30 trip on the Branson Scenic Railway.

This is a train that consists of cars from the 40's, 50's and 60's that have been refurbished. The train has two engines, one on either end. It takes you for a 45 minute ride one way and then stops, this is when the engine that is in the "back" takes over and pulls you back.

There is a dining car, a sleeper car, regular passenger cars, club cars and usually three "dome" cars although today there were only two due to one being out for repairs. The dome cars have glass domes on top and you can sit up there on the second level for a bird's eye view of the countryside. The dome cars filled quickly and we weren't able to get up there. At first I was disappointed but after hearing the others back at the station when it was over I was glad there wasn't room for us. It seems as though there wasn't any leg room and it was hot with the sun beating down through the glass. (Yes, it cleared and the sun came out) Instead, we sat in one of the club cars in very roomy, comfortable chair-like seats in air conditioning.

We ordered drinks and snacks from the dining car and were surprised at how reasonably priced they were.

Here is a picture of the scenery we saw as we passed over railroad trestles.

We were a little disappointed that there wasn't more to "see". It was mostly woods.

We did catch a glimpse of a "duck" ride that they have here too. We did this when we were in Hot Springs.

Downtown Branson sits on the waterfront of Taneycomo Lake. This is the second cleanest lake in the country. Is it ever clean! You can see right to the bottom and its loaded with trout! In this picture you can still see the morning mist.

In this picture Bob is standing in front of a pool of water with fountains which spray in time with music during the shows. At night water and fire are both used in the show.

This is a view of the tiered seating section and gardens from in front of the water fountain.

So that was our day in downtown Branson.